Principles of Organization Theory and Design

PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIZATION THEORY AND DESIGN                                              2

Principles of Organization Theory and Design

 In healthcare, there are a lot of organizations and a lot of theories that help run these systems. We were exposed to several theories that describe how a variety of organizations work. At Pine Tree Dental in Chantilly, VA, my workplace I see many theories but these two theories are most prominently: bureaucratic and institutional theory.

The bureaucratic theory was founded by Max Weber in the late 19th century.  He identified six characteristics of bureaucracy: Hierarchical Management, Structure Division of Labor, Formal Selection Process, Career Orientation, Formal Rules and Regulations Impersonality (Learning, n.d.). With these six rules, Weber thought bureaucracy would result in the highest level of efficiency, rationality, and worker satisfaction.

This theory is in full effect at my organization. We have a hierarchical management and structure of division of labor. The different levels of management are; dentists/owners, office manager, dental hygienist, dental assistant, and interns.  Each staff member has different roles but the goal is the same, to make the patient's visit as stress-free as possible. As an example, my role in the clinic as a dental assistant is to greet and seat the patient, take x-rays, prep the room before and after each patient, assist the dentist during treatment and help out at the front desk. Each individual at the clinic has their own protocol to follow while dealing with patients.

Out of all of the points, Weber mentions one point is very important in today's competitive world. Formal selection process; a process in which employees are selected based on what they know rather than whom they know.  This point is in effect for anyone in any field. Without proper training or education, one cannot do the job effectively compared to one who has these qualifications. Without proper training such as obtaining my radiation certificate, I would have

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not been considered for my current job, likewise if the dentist did not go to dental school and was not board certified the clinic would not have existed.  

The second theory that is interpreting the structure and function of the clinic is the institutional theory. The theory states we tend to copy the behavior of those we consider ahead of us. (Insituational 2018). This takes place in the clinic every day. Since we are a small clinic with 3 dentists and 5 total dental chairs, our office manager, as well as the dentist, rely on other clinics marketing strategies and presentations.